"Indeed," Roxton said, the smile on his lips reaching his gray eyes and causing them to twinkle with ill-concealed amusement. Glad he thinks this situation is funny, Joe fumed silently as he was admitted inside.

"This way," Roxton instructed, turning around and leaving Joe to follow.

Wonder what other duties he performs? Joe thought, looking at the man in front of him who was easily four inches taller than Joe and almost twice as broad, although Joe could see no sign of fat anywhere.

Roxton led Joe through the living room and out the patio door. "Joe Hardy," Roxton announced his presence.

A sudden stillness registered as most of the men present turned to stare at Joe. Cooper Sorrel approached Joe with a smile. "Joseph, glad you could make it," he greeted the youth.

Joe returned the smile with a strained one as Marie came up to Joe and took his right arm. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Come on," she said. "I want you to meet everyone."

As Marie introduced Joe around, several of the men went to Sorrel and demanded an explanation. "Calm yourselves, gentlemen," Sorrel instructed in an affable tone. "Joe is dating my daughter."

"Don’t you know who is father is?" demanded Ike Nelson, Cooper’s brother-in-law and lawyer.

"Fenton Hardy," Sorrel answered, smiling.

"And you’re okay with that?" Nelson pushed.

"Can you think of a better way to keep Fenton Hardy from getting involved in an investigation of our activities?" Sorrel countered.

"Wait a minute," Clint Squire interrupted. "You mean you want Joe Hardy to become part of the family?"

"That is exactly what I intend," Sorrel asserted. "Marie’s meeting Joe was perfect. I couldn’t have planned it better."

"But she’s going back to England in a little over a week," Nelson reminded him.

"Maybe not," Sorrel replied, looking at the way Marie and Joe were holding each other.

"I’m glad you came," Marie told Joe after she had managed to pull Joe away from her Aunt Denise.

"Me too," Joe replied, smiling down into her eyes. It’s not fair! I really like her! Joe thought as he pushed a strand of hair from her face, unaware he and Marie were the focus of attention at the male pow-wow. "I wish you went to Bayport High," he continued wistfully. "Then I could see those angelic eyes everyday."

Marie blushed and looked at him through her thick lashes. "Would you like to see the rest of the house?" she asked. "I know you’ve seen pretty much everything out here."

"Sure," agreed Joe. Marie took his hand and led him back toward the house.

"And where are you two off to?" Sorrel asked as the youths neared the door.

"I want to show Joe around," Marie said. "Is that all right?"

"Of course," Sorrel agreed at once. "But don’t be too long. We’ll be starting dinner soon."

"We won’t," Marie promised, pulling Joe inside.

"They do seem to like each other," Nelson commented.

"And unlike the original Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets seem to want this Romeo around," Piers commented.

***

When the couple returned to the group everyone moved into the backyard where Roxton had started the grill. Nelson was put in charge and Sorrel wandered over to Joe’s side. "Have you had any luck in locating the Renoir?" he asked as several other guests joined them.

"No," Joe replied. "But I have found out why the owner won’t sell to you."

"Oh?" Sorrel asked, raising an interested eyebrow.

"Actually, it’s more along the line of he can’t sell," Joe corrected his earlier comment. "The owner said he would love to sell the painting but according to the contract with the museum, the board of directors has to agree to sell as well."

"Excellent," Sorrel said, slapping Joe lightly on the back. "I have been talking to the wrong person. Thank you."

"Don’t mention it," Joe acknowledged with a smile.

"What a strange place to park a motorcycle!" exclaimed one of two women who were coming to join the party. They had gone inside to the restroom and saw the motorcycle as they passed the front window.

"Pardon?" Joe asked, surprised. His had been the only bike there that he had noticed.

"It was in the middle of the street," the woman informed everyone.

Joe and some of the other guests leapt to their feet and raced around the house. Sure enough, his motorcycle was standing in the middle of the road.